Pencil-vetoing machine



E. W. SINGLETARY.

PENCIL VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man Nov. 22. 1918.

E. W. SINGLETARY.

PENCIL VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 22.71918.

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3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED NOV` 22, 1918.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Snom/woz TNB CBUJIBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

EMERSON W. SINGIETRY, OF MORGANZA, LOUISIANA.

PENCIL-VENDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

Grignal application filed .T anuary` 2, 1918, Serial No. 209,983. Divided and this application filed November 22, 1918. Serial No; 263,777.

lb all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, EMnusoN W. SINGLE- '.rAnY, a citizen ofthe United S`tates,1'esiding at lvl'organza, in the parish of Pointe Coupes and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pencil- V ending Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, andexaet description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present application is a division of my siinilarly-entitled prior application ISerial No. 209,983, filed January 2, 1918, and relates more particularly to the construction of the cabinet and the means Within for supporting the articles to `be vendcd and to the means `whereby the articles are delivered to the purchaser.

The invention will be moreparticularly hereinafter described in conjunction with the accomlninying drawings wherein similar reference synibols designate like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top 4plan view of the improved vending machine With the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view talrenon the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken atsubstantially right angles througliithe machineion the line 3 3 in Fig. 1. l

Fig. 4 is an end "elevational View, with parts shown in section and with the locking mechanism housing` removed, and showing the parts in one position.

Fig. 5 is a similar vieiv showingthe parts in the next following sequence; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective vienT of aikey ein ployed in filling the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 and 2 designate ends and 3 and 4 sides, which are assembled on a base 5, and together with a top G form a receptacle 7 in which a supply of pencils or other articles to be vended may be kept, and a coin depository 8 separated from'the receptacle 7 by a partition S). The cover 6 is preferably hinged, as indicated at 10, to the receptacle or base, and may be provided with Va lock to secure the cover closed against unauthorized access.

On the cover 6 are erected sides 11 and 12, which have locking rods 15 and 16 passing vertically therethrough, and provided at their lower ends with cranks 13 and 14 by which theyr may be operated, andlwhich are contained in the base of the machine, as shown in Fig. 3, Where they Will be sec-ure against unauthorized tampering. The upper extremities of said rods 15 and 16 are bent over' at right angles as indicated at 17 and 18, and are adapted to `engage in openings 17 and18 made in the members 21 and 22, which, together With the curved metallic piece 23, form the top of the machine. These extremities 17 and 18 are shown in Fig. 3 to lock the top of the machine in place. In Fig. 2 the sides 11 and 12 are shoyvnas provided with recesses 19 and 2O in which the bent extremities 17 and 18 are received when the top 23 is to be removed and to which position they are turned by the cranks 13 and 14.

Endless conveyor belts 24 and 25 are tted to run over pairs of lower drums 26 on a shaft 27 and pairs of upper drums 28 on a shaft 29; which shafts are journaled in the sides 11 and 12. The lower shaft 27 constitutes the drive shaft, and the drums 26 thereon are provided with teeth 30 which receive perforations 31 in the conveyor belts 24 and 25. The variousdrums 26and 28 are also `preferably made With annular grooves 32 for receiving the inner ends of series of spaced pins 33 fitted through perforations in the conveyer belts 24 and 25. The spaces between these pins provide for receiving tne pencils which are delivered therefrom in the manner hereinafter described.

A jack 34 fits beneath the upper shaft 29 and is adapted to `be moved upwardly 'in 0rder to tighten the conveyer belts 24 and 25 by a screw 35 threaded in a bearing 36 carried by a cross bar 37 having down turned ends' 38 and 39, secured as by the bolts 40 and 41 to the sides 11 and 12.

Blocks 42 and`43 are placed on the cover Galongside of the sides 1l and 12; said blocks being formed with semi-cylindrical depressions 44 and 45 in their upper faces in order to provide with front and rear pairs of guide posts 46 and 47 which are erected on said blocks 42 and 43, vertically disposed guidewaysin which the pins 33 on the belts 24 and 25 will travel, as shown in Fig. 2, while the pencils or other articles held by such pins will be prevented from escaping, except at the slokt or gap 48 made in the upper left hand corner of the guideway as shown in Fig. 2, just above the inclined upper ends 49 of the front posts 46. The pins 33 on the left hand side of the conveyer belt, as shown in Fig. 2, are so set therein that they will assume an inclination with their free ends downward, so as to direct the pencils onto the beveled upper ends 49 when same arrive at the gap 43. To aid in ejecting the pencils there are provided displacers in the form of upstanding bars 46', held on the cross bar 37, having forwardly inclined upper ends 47, which extend into the'path of the pencils, as indicated in Fig. 2, and which cause the pencils to ride forth into the gap 48.

A delivery chute 56 is comprised between the front ends of the posts 46 and the glass panel 51 fitted in guideways 52 in the side pieces 11 and 12, as shown in Fig. 1. A similar glass panel 53 is likewise slidable in guideways 54 also in said side pieces. These glass panels permit the prospective purchaser to inspect the contents ofthe machine. At the lower end of the pencil delivery chute 50 is an apron 55 having` turned up claws 56 in which to catch the pencil and hold it at a place where it may readily be removed by the purchaser.

The two forward posts 46 are held spaced apart by hollow sleeves 57, having threaded ends which engage the inner ends of right and left screw threaded bolts 53 and passing through the posts and side pieces 11 and 12. Similar sleeves 60 are employed to join the oppositely threaded ends of the bolts 6l and 62. The sleeves are advantageously perforated, as indicated at 60', to receive a pin or other instrument, whereby said sleeves may be turned to draw together or release the bolts to which they are attached.

In one of the sides 12 is a coin chute 63 which communicates at its lower end with the coin depository 8. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the side piece 12 is cut away, as indicated at 64, to receive a lever 65 which projects inthe path of the coin 66, and which is i pivoted as indicated at 67. A spring 68 normally draws the vertical arm 69 of a latch 70 down so that the latch will be di rectly in the path of the end 71 of a thrust bar 72, which reciprocates in a bearing 73 and has a button 74 by which the purchaser may push the same inwardly. The vertical arm 69 is slotted, as shown at 75, which guides such arm in its vertical. movement about a screw 76. A stop 77 is pivoted at 78 on the side 12, and is normally held by a spring 7 9 in approximately the position shown in Fig. 4, but is adapted to be moved to the position shown in Fig. 5 by an arm SO when the thrust bar 72 is pushed inward, as illustrated.

A socket S1 is provided between the arm 80 and end of the thrust bar 72 to receive the opposingend of the latch 70, for which see Fig. 5. The upper edge of the thrust bar 72 is beveled as shown at 82, in order to lift the latch 70 as the stop 77 is removed.

Teeth S3 on the lower edge of the thrust bar 72 are provided to engage a ratchet wheel 84, which is loosely mounted over the shaft 27. A smaller ratchet lits within a recess 86 in the outer face of the larger ratchet 84, and ismade fast to the shaft 27. A` pawl 87 is carried by the lirst lnamed ratchet 84 and is yieldingly projected by a spring 8S to engage the teeth of the second named ratchet 85. The ratchet wheel 34 has an annular groove 89 in its rear face, in which lies a spring 90 attached at one end to the ratchet wheel, and at its other end to the side piece 12 for the purpose of returning said ratchet wheel toy initial position after each subsequent actuation.

In Fig. 6 is shown a key 91 having a shank 92, which fits in a slot 93 in the end of the shaft 27, whereby the proprietor of the machine may independently ofthe coiny controlled mechanism, revolve said' lower shaft in order to drive the conveyer belts for the purpose of refilling the machine. The key 91 is passed through an opening 91 in an inclosing casing 92; which opening is normally closed by a sliding plate 93 to shut out access to the slot 93. The sliding plate 93 is held elevated by a latch 94 which fits in a horizontally elongated openi ing in said plate, and is bent from the upper end of avertically turning rod 95 having a crank 96', whereby the latch may be engaged and disengaged.

The operation ofthe invention is substantially as follows:

The top 6 of the lower part of the Inachine is first lifted, it being held closed by a suitable lock; after which the proprietor of the machine has resort to the receptacle 7 for a supply of pencils, or other articles with which to ll the machine. Access is then had to the crank 96 and the same is turned, thus rotating the vertical rod 95 and swinging the latch 94 horizontally out of the elongated opening inthe plate 93 which releases the plate and permits' same to drop down and uncover the opening 91 in the inclosing casing 92. The key 91 may be then admitted.

Vihen the top 6 of the lower part of the machine is unlocked and raised it also gives access to the cranks 13 and 14, wh-ich are turned to rotate the locking rodsl 15 and 16 and withdraw the bent ends 17 and 18 from the openings 17 and 18 in the upper top. The latter may then be removed. The key is placed with its shank 92 in the slot D3 of the shaft 27, as shown in Fig. 3, andsuclrshaft is revolved by said key in a clockwise direction, viewing the machine trom Figs. 2, el and 5. As the key 91 is turned the inner ratchet S5 is rotated, also in a clockwise direction, as it is fixed on the shaft 27. The inclined teeth oi the ratchet wheel 85 slide beneath the pawl 87 without imparting any motion to the larger outer ratchet wheel 84. This turn ing ol the key will therefore cause the conveyer belts 24 and 25 to be driven, and as the successive spaces between the pins 53 are presented to the upper end oi the machine, the proprietor inserts the pencils until all of such spaces are occupied. The key is now removed and the top 23, slide 93 and lower top G replaced, the machine being in condition for operation.

A purchaser desiring tovsccure one of the pencils will place a nickel or coin of other denomination required in the chute G3. As this coin descends `it will strike the end of tho lever G5 as showii by the coin 66 in Fig. 4.-, causing the rocking ol' such lever" 65 on its lulcrum 67, which is accompanied by the liftingl ot the arm 69 and latch 70. The end ot' the latch 70, which normally extends directly in the path of the end 71 oli the thrust bar 72, is thereby raised as far as the stop 77 allows, which is shown in in Fig. t to be to a position opposite the beveled edge 82; the stop 77 preventing so great a movement of the lever G5 as would permit the coin (36 to innnediately descend into the coin depository 8.

With the parts in the positions indicated in Fig. 4;, the thrust bar 72 is now in condition to be forced inwardly to the position in Fig. 5. As said bar 72 is thrust by the button 7a, inwardly, the teeth S3 thereon will engage and rotate the ratchet wheel 84. Pawl S7 will. simultaneously rotate the smaller 'atchet wheel 85 so that the conveyer belts will be advanced the distance of one ot the spaces between the pins 33 in order to bring' the next successive pencil opposite the gap 'TLS where it may be delivered to the chute 50.

At the same time that the thrust bar 72 is being' moved inward, the beveled edge 82 will ride under the latch 70, lifting' the latch and swinging the lever G5 to a position where it will release the coin (i6 and allow it to pass to the depository S. The stop 77 will, of course, be simultaneously forced out oit' the way by the arin S0. Vhen lthe thrust bar 72 is released the spring 90 will return the outer ratchet Sil to the original position which will also restore the thrust bar 72 to its outer position, while the spring 7 S) will return t-he stop 77 and the spring (i8, the latch and lever 65. The restoring movement ot the larger ratchet Silby the spring, 90 takes place 4in a counter-cloclnvise direction, land the yieldable pawl 87 therefore rides overthe inclined 'faces of the inner ratchet teeth without having' the eliect to rotate same. The par will then be in condition lor subsequent actuation.

.It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction `and arrangements ot parts without departing from the spirit ot my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except as may be required by the claims.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus ot the character described, the combination of a cabinet coinposed oi sides, a base block between said sides having a substantially cylindrical depression therein, guide posts erected on said base block and forming a. guitileway in connection with said depression, a top tor the cabinet also havingasubstantially cylindrical depression therein form in g a part ol said ,guideway at the upper portion ot the cabinet, conveying mechanism operating in said guideway, means on said conveyiugmeclianisin for carrying the articles to be vended, such articles being held in said means by the wall oi said. guideway, said guideway hav inga gap thereinlormed at the upper end oi certain of said posts for allowing the exit oi. the articles from said conveying' mechanism, a delivery chute in connection with said gap, and an apron at the bottom ot said chute extending to the exterior oi the cabi net tor catching; and holding the delivered articles in position to be removed by the pur- Chaser, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a cabinet com posed of sides, a base block located between said sides and having a substantially cylindrical depression therein, pairs ot l'ront and rear posts erected at the corners oit said base block and providing a guideway with said depression, a top for the machine also haviup, a substantially cylindrical depression :forming a continuation ol the guideway at the upper portion oft the cabinet, vertically arranged conveyer belts traveling' in said guideway, pins carried by said belts and projecting therein from at an angle to the horizontal. for supporting articles to be vended, the upper ends ot the front posts terminating a distance from said top and being; beveled to provide a delivery gap ttor the articles, the articles adapted to be directed by gravity to said delivery gap by said .inclined pins, said sides having` vertical grooves therein, transparent panels fitted in said Lgrooves, the trout panel being spaced Ylrom said posts to provide a delivery chute, and an apron at the base ot the delivery chute tor directing the articles to the eX- terior of the cabinet and having means to hold such articles in position to be removed by the purchaser, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a cabinet having a guideway therein with a delivery gap, a chute in connection with the delivery gap, means in communication with the chute for holding the articles to be vended on the exterior of the cabinet, conveying mechanism in the guideway, supports carried by the conveying mechanism for holding the articles to be vended7 a removable top for said cabinet, means whereby said top may be locked in. place, a base for the cabinet, a receptacle provided in said base, a top for the receptacle adapted to be locked in place, and means accessible only after said lastmentioned top is opened whereby to control the locking means for said first-mentioned top, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a base, a receptacle for a supply of the articles to be vended in said base, a coin depository also in said Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,-

base, a hinged top for said base, a cabinet mounted 0n said hinged top and having a guideway therein, conveying mechanism 0perating in said guideway, supports on said conveying mechanism for carrying the articles to be vended, means whereby the conveying mechanism may be actuated, coin controlled mechanism for controlling the last-named means, the coins therefrom adapted to pass inte said coin depository, means contained in the cabinet whereby the articles may be delivered to the exterior thereof, a removable upper top on the cabinet adapted to permit access' to the conveying mechanism, rods adapted to turn in said cabinet, parts carried by said rods and adapted to move into locking engagement with said upper top, and means contained in said base whereby said rods may be `operated, substantially as described.

EMERSON W. SINGLETARY.

Washington, D. C. 

